nate mclouth

Executive vice president Dan Duquette made a point at the beginning of the offseason that he did not expect the Orioles to pursue expensive free agents.

One name is going to keep coming up for the Baltimore Orioles and that is free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, who won a Gold Glove and hit 33 homers for the Washington Nationals last year.

Now that the Blue Jays continue to load up this offseason -- agreeing to acquire NL Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey from the Mets pending signing him to an extension -- I¿m continuing to get questions about why the Orioles are being so quiet.

Earlier this month, just after the Orioles non-tendered first baseman Mark Reynolds, Chris Davis received a phone call from Orioles manager Buck Showalter. The message: Get your first baseman's mitt ready for 2013.

The Orioles made the Nate McLouth signing official on Thursday and, technically, that counts as a fairly important move for the club this offseason.

The Orioles announced a one-year deal with Nate McLouth that will pay him $2 million with $500,000 of performance-based incentives.

Now that Baltimore Orioles OF Nate McLouth is back in the fold, one major question is whether he would return to the leadoff spot where he flourished for the last month of the season after Nick Markakis went down with a broken left thumb.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder L.J. Hoes earned a taste of the big leagues this past season, but the organization¿s minor league player of the year faces a tough fight this spring to make the 25-man roster out of camp.

Eighty students from Morrell Park Elementary-Middle attended the event, selected to attend based on a combination of perfect attendance, citizenship awards and making the honor roll. The Orioles held the party, which is aimed at rewarding children from disadvantaged areas of Baltimore, for the 34th year.

Baseball's winter meetings came and went, and all the Orioles have to show for it is a crazy-haired left fielder and a minor league pitcher with a major league name. How would you grade their offseason up to this point?

Team re-signed Nate McLouth, selected T.J. McFarland in Rule 5 draft in Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Orioles didn¿t return to Baltimore from the Winter Meetings with the power bat they coveted, but club executive vice president Dan Duquette was satisfied with the team¿s progress this week in Nashville.

The Orioles added their latest reclamation project Wednesday, agreeing to terms with first baseman Conor Jackson on a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training, executive vice president Dan Duquette announced.

The Orioles and outfielder Nate McLouth, one of their key stretch run players from last year¿s playoff season, agreed to a one-year deal Wednesday, essentially shutting the door on acquiring more major league outfielders, including free agent Nick Swisher.

With their resigning of outfielder Nate McLouth today, the Orioles are no longer interested in free-agent Nick Swisher.

While the first-base position remains a question for the Orioles, the team currently has no interest in acquiring veterans Justin Morneau and Kevin Youkilis.

Now that Nate McLouth has re-signed with the Orioles, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with $500,000 additional available in bonuses based on plate appearances, what does it mean for the club this offseason and for the 2013 season?

In their attempt to find a power bat, the Orioles have shown interest in trading for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jason Kubel.

The fact the Orioles reportedly have signed outfielder Nate McLouth to a one-year deal worth just $2 million plus incentives doesn¿t mean that it¿s not a very important move in the greater scheme of things.

Baltimore Sun Orioles beat writers Eduardo A. Encina and Dan Connolly wrap up Day 2 of the winter meetings from Nashville, where the Orioles have had discussions with a number of free-agent targets, including Nick Swisher and former O's Nate McLouth and Joe Saunders.

The Orioles are pushing to add another outfielder, and if they can't re-sign free agent left fielder Nate McLouth, they are trolling for other options, including former New York Yankees first baseman-outfielder Nick Swisher and former Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nate Schierholtz.

The Orioles met with the representatives of free-agent outfielder/first baseman Nick Swisher tonight here at the Winter Meetings, an industry source has confirmed.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter just met with the media for his annual winter meetings news conference. Here are some highlights.

On the eve of this year's Winter Meetings, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette re-emphasized that the team's top priority this week is acquiring a middle-of-the-order power bat.

Dan Duquette, the Orioles¿ executive vice president of baseball operations, took some time away from the organization¿s affiliates¿ reception to talk to reporters tonight at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

NASHVILLE -- On the eve of this year's Winter Meetings, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette re-emphasized that the team's top priority is acquiring a middle-of-the-order power bat.

What I want from you is one name -- the one player you think the Orioles will end up with when all of the offseason dust settles. I can¿t imagine they land a Josh Hamilton or Zack Greinke, but if you disagree, then go ahead and make that your choice.

First off, some full disclosure here. I was one of the masses who spent the early morning hours chasing doorbusters and trying to get a leg up on Holiday shopping. Part of it is to get some deals -- or at least the idea of them ¿ and the other part is the experience. You see a lot of interesting things.

Several media outlets reported Wednesday that the Boston Red Sox have a two-year deal in place for right-handed slugger Jonny Gomes. The Orioles had legitimate interest in Gomes, but only on a one-year deal.

Andino was the team's Opening Day second baseman last season, but once the Orioles claimed second baseman Alexi Casilla from the Twins this offseason, Andino appeared to be a non-tender candidate.

As a result of his leadership, Showalter could be rewarded Tuesday night with his third AL Manager of the Year Award. He's won the award following the strike-shortened season of 1994 with the Yankees and then again award in 2002 as manager of the Texas Rangers.

I've been getting a number of inquiries about whether the Orioles are interested in trading for Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, and I can say it likely won't happen.

Despite national reports linking them with big-ticket left fielders that appear to be out of the club's financial comfort zone, the Orioles continue to pursue Nate McLouth, who seized the starting job last August and emerged as the team's hottest hitter in the postseason.

The Orioles acquisition of second baseman Alexi Casilla is his first such move of the offseason. The Orioles claimed Casilla off waivers from the Twins, who paid Casilla $1.38 million last season in his second arbitration-eligibile year.

The Orioles head into free agency — which starts in earnest Saturday with free agents permitted to negotiate with all 30 teams for the first time this offseason — in a much different situation than this time last year. Executive vice president Dan Duquette is not only in place as club's decision-maker, but he seems to be established as a man with a plan.

The Orioles have made a move to strengthen their infield defense, claiming 28-year-old second baseman Alexi Casilla from the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

As free agency opens Saturday morning, there is one change that will decide how teams receive compensation draft picks for free agents who sign with other teams.